What skin care habits should I START to repair a damaged skin barrier?

If you are trying to repair a damaged skin barrier, or if you just want to protect and future-proof your skin, make these skin care habits a normal part of your personal care routine.

Patch test personal care products to see how your skin will react before using them.
Drink 2-3 quarts of water daily. Water ON the skin can actually dry it out but water IN the skin keeps it healthy.
Cleanse your skin at least once a day (twice for the face) using a very gentle cleanser.
Use lukewarm water instead of hot water when cleansing. Hot water can harm skin cells and strip away the outer sebum layer, causing the skin to produce more sebum to compensate. Excessive sebum production can lead to various skin problems, including acne.
Develop a routine to allow for plenty of restorative sleep.
Sleep on your back to reduce the introduction of microbiome-disrupting bacteria.
Limit sun exposure during the hottest part of the day and to no more than 20-30 minutes at a time, if possible.
Apply a mineral-based powder sunscreen (paid link) to exposed skin, including the hairline, jawline, and ears, and reapplying every 2 hours. Use a clean, dry sponge or brush to apply the sunscreen, and clean it at the end of the day to prevent bacteria buildup on the applicator.
Run a humidifier if an air conditioner or heater is drying out the air.
Run an air conditioner to control excess humidity.
In hot, humid weather, use a no-rinse cleanser like Corum Superfruit Hydrating Cleanser to quickly cleanse away sweat.
Use hydrating products that help lock in hydration with ingredients like such as honey, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and propanediol.
Use an oil cleanser that will bind with oily sebum, sunscreen, and makeup to cleanse deeply without drying or compromising the microbiome or skin pH.
Use products with prebiotics and probiotics that support the skin microbiome (1) will help keep disruptors in check.
Use products with additional skin cell building blocks: peptides (2), cholesterol, plant stem cells (3), and ceramides (4).
Lock in moisture and limit damage with anti-inflammatory plant oils containing free fatty acids (5) and antioxidants (6).
Zap zits with Corum Zit Zap Spot Stick to quickly promote healing without drying
Choose makeup carefully. Certain ingredients in makeup can worsen skin problems. Powder mineral makeup is less likely to cause further damage to the skin barrier because it lacks the ingredients necessary to create the water and oil emulsion. Liquid and cream-based products not only have more ingredients but they are often formulated to be waterproof, which can increase the chances of clogging pores and trapping dirt and bacteria. It’s a good idea to test any new product on a small area of skin first to see how your skin reacts.
Regularly clean your makeup applicators. Clean them after every use to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and fungi. Try Corum Makeup Brush Cleaner Concentrate, which makes the task quick and easy, so you can incorporate it into your regular makeup routine.
Reduce and manage stress, which is proven to speed up the skin healing process (7).
Exercising regularly helps moisturize the skin and supports the growth of healthy bacteria (8). Try Corum Superfruit Hydrating Cleanser to quickly cleanse your face after a workout.
Eat foods that support both skin and gut health. A healthy gut is important for healthy skin.
Consult a healthcare professional — The appearance of the skin is influenced by both internal health and external factors. If making healthy lifestyle changes and modifying your skin care habits do not help to repair damage to the skin barrier, it may be necessary to seek professional help.

If you DO NOT have a fungal-related skin condition, certain plant oils can help to repair and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

If you DO have a fungal-related skin condition, avoid plant oils until your skin barrier returns to normal.

¹ Al-Ghazzewi FH, Tester RF. Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health. Benef Microbes. 2014 Jun 1;5(2):99-107. doi: 10.3920/BM2013.0040. PMID: 24583611.

² Jeong, Sekyoo et al. “Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,1 73. 20 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijms21010073.

³ Korkina, Liudmila G et al. “Meristem Plant Cells as a Sustainable Source of Redox Actives for Skin Rejuvenation.” Biomolecules vol. 7,2 40. 12 May. 2017, doi:10.3390/biom7020040.

⁴ Asai S, Miyachi H. [Evaluation of skin-moisturizing effects of oral or percutaneous use of plant ceramides]. Rinsho Byori. 2007 Mar;55(3):209-15. Japanese. PMID: 17441463.

⁵ Poljšak N, Kreft S, Kočevar Glavač N. Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology. Phytother Res. 2020 Feb;34(2):254-269. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6524. Epub 2019 Oct 27. PMID: 31657094.

⁶ Dreher F, Maibach H. Protective effects of topical antioxidants in humans. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2001;29:157-64. doi: 10.1159/000060664. PMID: 11225195.

⁷ Reich A, Wójcik-Maciejewicz A, Slominski AT. Stress and the skin. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Apr;145(2):213-9. PMID: 20467395.

⁸ Tetsuo Shiohara, Yoshiko Mizukawa, Yurie Shimoda-Komatsu, Yumi Aoyama. Sweat is a most efficient natural moisturizer providing protective immunity at points of allergen entry, Allergology International, Volume 67, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 442-447, ISSN 1323-8930

LEARN MORE

What are Skin Barrier Repair Products?

What skin care habits should I START to repair a damaged skin barrier?

If you are trying to repair a damaged skin barrier, or if you just want to protect and future-proof your skin, make these skin care habits a normal part of your personal care routine.

If you DO NOT have a fungal-related skin condition, certain plant oils can help to repair and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

If you DO have a fungal-related skin condition, avoid plant oils until your skin barrier returns to normal.

1 Al-Ghazzewi FH, Tester RF. Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health. Benef Microbes. 2014 Jun 1;5(2):99-107. doi: 10.3920/BM2013.0040. PMID: 24583611.

2 Jeong, Sekyoo et al. “Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,1 73. 20 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijms21010073.

3 Korkina, Liudmila G et al. “Meristem Plant Cells as a Sustainable Source of Redox Actives for Skin Rejuvenation.” Biomolecules vol. 7,2 40. 12 May. 2017, doi:10.3390/biom7020040.

4 Asai S, Miyachi H. [Evaluation of skin-moisturizing effects of oral or percutaneous use of plant ceramides]. Rinsho Byori. 2007 Mar;55(3):209-15. Japanese. PMID: 17441463.

5 Poljšak N, Kreft S, Kočevar Glavač N. Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology. Phytother Res. 2020 Feb;34(2):254-269. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6524. Epub 2019 Oct 27. PMID: 31657094.

6 Dreher F, Maibach H. Protective effects of topical antioxidants in humans. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2001;29:157-64. doi: 10.1159/000060664. PMID: 11225195.

7 Reich A, Wójcik-Maciejewicz A, Slominski AT. Stress and the skin. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Apr;145(2):213-9. PMID: 20467395.

8 Tetsuo Shiohara, Yoshiko Mizukawa, Yurie Shimoda-Komatsu, Yumi Aoyama. Sweat is a most efficient natural moisturizer providing protective immunity at points of allergen entry, Allergology International, Volume 67, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 442-447, ISSN 1323-8930

LEARN MORE

What are Skin Barrier Repair Products?

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Skin Care Habits to Leave Behind

How to Get Rid of Fungal Acne Naturally

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Oily Skin Care

Natural Remedies for Acne

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A Good Skincare Routine for ACNE and OILY SKIN

Patch Test Personal Care Products

A Healthy Skin Diet

Can Stress Cause Skin Problems?

Essential Oils in Personal Care Products

What Are the Best Plant Oils for Skin?

Can Plant Oils Help Repair the Skin Barrier?

How to Layer Skincare Products to Get the Most out of Your Routine

What are Skin Barrier Repair Products?

Skin Care Habits to Start

¹ Al-Ghazzewi FH, Tester RF. Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health. Benef Microbes. 2014 Jun 1;5(2):99-107. doi: 10.3920/BM2013.0040. PMID: 24583611.

² Jeong, Sekyoo et al. “Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,1 73. 20 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijms21010073.

³ Korkina, Liudmila G et al. “Meristem Plant Cells as a Sustainable Source of Redox Actives for Skin Rejuvenation.” Biomolecules vol. 7,2 40. 12 May. 2017, doi:10.3390/biom7020040.

⁴ Asai S, Miyachi H. [Evaluation of skin-moisturizing effects of oral or percutaneous use of plant ceramides]. Rinsho Byori. 2007 Mar;55(3):209-15. Japanese. PMID: 17441463.

⁵ Poljšak N, Kreft S, Kočevar Glavač N. Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology. Phytother Res. 2020 Feb;34(2):254-269. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6524. Epub 2019 Oct 27. PMID: 31657094.

⁶ Dreher F, Maibach H. Protective effects of topical antioxidants in humans. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2001;29:157-64. doi: 10.1159/000060664. PMID: 11225195.

⁷ Reich A, Wójcik-Maciejewicz A, Slominski AT. Stress and the skin. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Apr;145(2):213-9. PMID: 20467395.

⁸ Tetsuo Shiohara, Yoshiko Mizukawa, Yurie Shimoda-Komatsu, Yumi Aoyama. Sweat is a most efficient natural moisturizer providing protective immunity at points of allergen entry, Allergology International, Volume 67, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 442-447, ISSN 1323-8930